1 Dead, 21 Injured After Storm Hits Portugal

A powerful storm has struck the popular Algarve resort town of Albufeira, leaving one woman dead and 21 others injured, as Portuguese authorities investigate whether the region was hit by a rare tornado.

According to the national news agency Lusa, the civil protection authority confirmed on Saturday that two people sustained serious injuries, while 19 others suffered minor wounds. Early reports did not confirm whether any foreign tourists were among the victims.

The national meteorological service believes the storm that swept through the Algarve may have reached tornado strength, though further investigation is required to determine the exact nature of the phenomenon.

The fatality occurred at a campsite where one person also suffered serious injuries. Lusa reported that the second seriously injured individual was staying at a hotel during the storm. Footage broadcast by the state-owned RTP channel showed cars with shattered windows, uprooted trees and buildings severely damaged across the resort area.

While tornadoes are rare in the Algarve, especially ones strong enough to cause severe destruction, they are not entirely unprecedented in the region.